Rapids Announce 4th Fest 2010

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Tuesday, June 8, 2010) – The Colorado Rapids announced today that this year they will again be hosting the state's biggest celebration of America's birthday in Colorado on July 4 with a free community festival, game and fireworks extravaganza at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

The event, "4thFest Colorado", will take place on Sunday, July 4, 2010.

Preceding the match between the Rapids and the New York Red Bulls will be a free community festival outside the south end of the stadium starting at 5:00 pm, featuring live bands, kids’ activities, and interactive games for families and fans of all ages.

On this 15th consecutive Fourth of July home game for the Rapids, they face off against the New York Red Bulls, with kickoff starting at 7:00 pm. Colorado will look to continue their dominating record on Independence Day; the Rapids hold an 11-2-1 all-time record on games played on the 4th of July.

Immediately following the game will be an historic live in-stadium performance by one of Colorado’s biggest local bands, national recording artists Meese. Known for their hit songs “Next in Line” and “Tell Me It’s Over”, Meese will play their final ever performance inside the stadium, as the band announced they will be disbanding following the Rapids’ 4th of July show.

Following the performance by Meese will be Colorado's biggest and most explosive fireworks show in celebration of America's birthday.

This year's fireworks show, taking place at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for the fourth straight year, will again be the largest in the state of Colorado. The Rapids are partnering this year with Zambelli Fireworks Internationale, one of the world’s most respected fireworks companies. Zambelli, who produced the Rapids’ 4th of July shows at Mile High Stadium and Invesco Field, have also produced shows everywhere from the Kentucky Derby to Mount Rushmore to the Super Bowl, and reunite with the Rapids for the first time since 2006 to bring their high-powered show back to Rapids fans.

The location of Dick’s Sporting Goods Park frees the club to put on a pyrotechnics show that will have none of the noise or shell size restrictions that other shows in downtown Denver or other areas must adhere to, making this show the biggest and most explosive in the state this year.

As always, fans located in the East and West stands of the stadium, as well as fans in the brand new Supporters Terrace, will be invited down to sit on the field itself after the conclusion of the game for the concert and fireworks show.

All pre- and post-game activities and events taking place outside the stadium, including parking, are free to the public.

For the full details on the Rapids' 2010 4thFest Celebration, as well as all the A-Z info you need about everything from parking to tailgating to the band stage schedule to prohibited items, please visit the official website of the event, www.4thFestColorado.com.

Tickets for the Rapids vs. New York match are currently on sale while supplies last at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Box Office, at ticket kiosks located in all Colorado area Dick’s Sporting Goods locations, online at www.TicketHorse.com, or by phone at 303-53-HORSE.

For more information on 4thFest Colorado, fans can call the Rapids Ticket Hotline at (303) 825-GOAL or log onto www.4thFestColorado.com.

ABOUT MEESE

One of Denver’s favorite local bands, Meese is a four-piece rock band currently signed to Atlantic Records. The name "Meese" is taken from the last name of the band's founders and brothers, Patrick and Nathan Meese. The other two members of the band are Ben Haley and Mike Ayars. Meese has shared the stage and toured with bands such as Our Lady Peace, The Fray, Straylight Run, Paramore, Phantom Planet, Dropping Daylight, and many others. In 2009, the band released their first major studio album, "Broadcast," which has been received with warm reviews. The album's first single is "Next In Line" was offered as a free single of the week on iTunes. Their website is www.MeeseMusic.com.

ABOUT ZAMBELLI FIREWORKS

Proudly known as the "First Family of Fireworks," Zambelli is one of the oldest and largest American fireworks companies. Today, the family name is synonymous with quality, creativity and safety. Each year Zambelli Fireworks produces more than 3,500 shows. Over the years, the company has been involved in hundreds of thousands of shows, including many of the largest fireworks displays in history. Even with today's technological advances, Zambelli pyrotechnicians still hand pick every shell for each show to ensure that the designed effect is achieved. As one of the world's largest manufacturers of pyrotechnics, Zambelli can provide the greatest variety of "high quality" and "customized" shells, in conjunction with the finest fireworks amassed from around the world. Their website is www.ZambelliFireworks.com.